Australians are increasingly obsessed with large pickup trucks of American origin that make the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux look… small.
By mid-2023, no corner of the new car market is growing sales faster’Pickup trucks over $100,000‘, which is up a whopping 65.4% year-to-date.
Australians delivered 5724 of these giants this year, led by 1500 . ram range with 3697 YTD units – for more context Nissan Navara 4×4 (3474).
Its archenemy is Chevrolet Silveradoreached sales of 1015 YTD, which in some contexts is more than double the sales managed by jeep fighter.
Both the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado use a thirsty V8 petrol engine, which provides a trailer towing capacity of up to 4.5 tons and is about 10% longer than the Ranger.
Rounding out this growing segment are (for now) even larger and more burly heavy-duty diesel models designed to pull extreme loads: Silverado HD (553 YTD sales) and Ram 2500 /3500 (sales 459).
Ram and Chevy models are sold by different companies but have one important thing in common – namely, they were redesigned by Melbourne-based company Walkinshaw for right-hand drive at local production lines.
There’s been an aftermarket industry for RHD redesigns for a while (Performax, for example), but now it’s happening on an unbelievable scale, with full manufacturer support. machine and all that brings customers about ease-purchase, and guarantee.
The positive results have given Ram Trucks, part of Stellantis, confidence that Australia will become an ever greater source of exports. International tycoon Ram Bob Graczyk visited Melbourne recently to see the production facility expand, and said demand had “absolutely exceeded our expectations”.
“10,000 cars [per year] now the reality – who knows, we could go up to 15 or 20,000 units. The acceptance of full-size pickups by Australians is phenomenal,” he said.
For its part, General Motors Australia also sees demand for Chevy Silverado not slowing down. In fact, it predicts a “significant increase” in throughput in the future, recently moved to a new brand-specific remanufacturing facility in the industrial suburb of Dandenong.
“… The new dedicated remanufacturing facility will allow for improved flexibility and capacity, with a significant increase in the number of Silverados coming soon,” said GMSV Director Joanne Stogiannis. said.
The sheer success and lucrative profit margins that come with it, have spurred at least two other major players to enter the fray on their own.
Ford Australia will sell its iconic F-150 here from the third quarter of 2023, redesigned by global partner RMA Automotive at a new facility north of Melbourne, a few blocks from the Walkinshaw factory in Melbourne. Clayton about 70 km. Its Six-figure prices are detailed here.
The company made no secret of the fact that strong sales of the Silverado and Ram were the reason for the decision to bring the F-150 back to Australia after a long absence. The vehicle will be covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and will be sold and serviced through the Ford Australia network.
Unlike American pickup rivals with V8 engines, the F-150 will be powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 but offers similar power, torque and traction.
THAN: Ram helps Australian distributor stay competitive with F-150
The fourth rider of the regular-size ute apocalypse will be the Toyota Tundra. The company’s local branch is also using Walkinshaw for redesign and plans to put hundreds of converted Tundras into the hands of punters for real-world feedback to resolve any kinks.
Local redesign project tundra right-hand drive shifters (they are made in the US factory only with left-hand drive) for 2024 sales are a world first for Toyota and will bring the company’s local division something to rise above HiLux And LandCruiser 300 . Series.
“This was the first agency meeting I can recall in decades where I heard whistles and cheers and 400 people and something that got everyone in the room really excited, like, like we are,” said vice president of sales, marketing and franchising, Toyota Australia Sean Hanley tells auto expert.
The RHD Tundras will run a hybrid powertrain that is unique in its class, which should make them a bit less hospitable than their competitors. It combines a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine (available in the LandCruiser 300 overseas) and an engine/battery/power control unit.
Electric charge!
While critics point out that these beasts are both large and not the last word in terms of eco-friendliness, they have great potential to beat Thai-made diesel utes. market in the race for electrification.
For example, after the Ram 1500 REV drove onto the stage of the 2023 New York auto show, the company confirmed all-electric pickups coming to Australiaalthough it could be as late as 2024. On this topic there’s also the Chevy Silverado EV Stateside, Launched in January 2022.
Ford Australia boss Andrew Birkic told us the much-advertised F-150 Lightning EV is also on the wish list, although the brand is working hard to bring the petrol-powered F-150 line out. front eye.
4×4 car sales in Australia from January to June 2023:
- Ford forest ranger – 23,620
- Toyota Hilux – 21,808
- Isuzu D-Max – 10.787
- Mazda BT-50 – 7866
- Mitsubishi Triton – 7354
- GWM Ute – 5291
- Toyota Landcruiser 70 – 5052
- LDV T60 – 4822
- RAM 1500 – 3697
- Nissan Navara – 3474
- Volkswagen Amarok – 2202
- Ssangyong Musso – 2036
- Chevrolet Silverado – 1015
- Chevrolet Silverado HD – 553
- Jeep Fighter – 467
- RAM 2500 – 423
- RAM 3500 – 36
